Overhead door mounting



Sept. 25, 1951 N. w. SMITH OVERHEAD DOOR MOUNTING Filed Sept. 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l r\\\ mxw mxw Sept. 25, 1951 N. w. SMITH OVERHEAD DOOR MOUNTING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1945 Patented Sept. 25, 1951 OVERHEAD DOOR, MOUNTING Norman W. Smith, Clearwater, Calif., assignor to Tavart Company, Ltd., Ls Angeles, Calif., a

limited partnership Application September 5, 1945, Serial No. 614,509

6 Claims.

This invention relates to overhead doors for garages shops, and the like and more particularly pertains to an improved mounting or hanger unit for such doors.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, compact and inexpensive hardware unit for hanging counterbalanced overhead doors wherein the unit is subject to a ready butaccurate installation on a door and frame and will afford an opening and closing of the door with a minimum of effort.

Another object of this invention is the provision in a door hanger or mounting of the 'character next above described in which the parts are constructed and arranged so as to take'up but little space and operate in a reliable man'- ner at all times.

A special feature of this invention is that the parts of the hanger are constructed, relatively arranged, and inter-related in such manner that the hanger may be installed on the door and door frame with comparative ease and thereafter-as easily adjusted to properly set the particular door in consideration of its thickness, thereby assuring that doors of varying thicknessesmaybehung in a properly closed position.

Another object of this invention is to provide for the aforesaid adjustment by means of bodily shiftable" pivotal connections for a pair of guide ordrag links, there being a means associated with-the adjustable pivots for locking them in the desired positions once the door is set in the proper closed position.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a door frame and an overhead door as hung with amounting means embodying the present invention, the door being closed;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing how a mounting means of the same construction and size as in Fig. 1 can be employed to hang a door of greater thickness than shown in Fig. 1, the adjustable pivots of the guide links being raised to: accommodate the relativelythicker door;

Fig. 3' is a fragmentary side elevation of the door frame and door and mounting means as when the door is raised to its overhead open position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the door stop arrange-- ment at the bottom of each jamb; I

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing more specifically, A designates an overhead door mounted to swing between the jambs B of a door frame from closed position shown in Fig. 1 in which the top of the door abuts the inner face of the header C, to-

open-position shown in Fig. 3 in which the outer face of the door lies under the header, and vice versa.' A stop member D is mounted on each jamb adjacent the floor level to limit the inward movement of the lower end of the'door so that the door will come to rest against the stop when in properly close position.

In accordance with this invention 1 provide a pair of identical hanger or mounting units for hanging the door. Each of these units comprises an angle iron bar 1 for mounting in an upright position on the inner face of the door A, a straight lever 8 pivoted at one end as at 9 intermediate the ends of the bar I, a straight drag or guide link 10 pivoted at one end as at H to the bar I adjacent the lower end thereof, and a vertically elongated bracket l2 on'which the lever is fulcrumed as at l3 and to which the other end of the drag link is connected by means of an adjustable pivot means generally designated P. A stop M is provided on the lever B to engage the bracket as shown in Fig. 3 to limit the swinging of the lever to a position in which the door is maintained in open position. The lever is also provided at its inner end with a longitudinal series of spaced holes l5 affording the connection by means of a fastening I5 of a counterbalancing spring I! which latter is secured by suitable means I8 to the lower portion of the adjacent jamb B of the door frame. 7

Although I have shown but one hanger unit itis to be understood that two such units are used for hanging a door, each unit being mounted in place in the same manner as'the one unit here shown.

In installing the units the bars 1 of the units may be secured to the door A by fastenings l9 after which the brackets 12 are secured by fastenings 20 to the inner faces of the jamb B while the door is disposed in upright position in the door frame.

As the thicknesses of doors vary and in'view of the fact that the drag links are pivoted to the bars 1 and bracket l2 when the hanger units are installed, it is necessary with particular doors'to make an adjustment of the pivot means in order that the door he installed in a vertical position and properly related to the door frame when closed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows the pivot means P adjusted to suit a particular door, and Fig. 2 shows how a larger and thicker door may be hung with the same ap paratus as shown in Fig. l by merely vertically adjusting the pivot means and installing a stop member D to suit the thicker door.

In the present embodiment, the pivot means P of each unit includes a pivot bolt 2i which is passed through the drag link It), mounted in a slot 22 in the bracket i2 and held in place by means of a nut 23 and the usual washers 24. When the nut is loosened the pivot may be moved vertically as necessary to properly set the door.

in closed position after which the nut is tightened to hold the pivot in the desired position. A bushing 24' is mounted in the pivot-receiving opening in the link IE3 as shown in Fig. 6 and is of greater length than the thickness of said link so that the pivot may be locked in adjusted position in the slot without binding the link and preventing a free swinging thereon on said pivot;

Fig. 1 shows the door and hanger means of my invention whenthe door is closed, the spring being then stretched to the maximum and will operate; to lift the door once the door is started and the operator follows through with a light lifting, forceexertedthrough the handle H. The springs operating through the levers 8 will make it possible to' lift and open the door with comparatively little effort and will also control the loweringaction so that the door will not slam.

Fig. 3 shows the position of the hanger parts and, springs when the door is in overhead and open. position, the springs being then fully retractedand operative to hold the door in open position.

The relative arrangement of the levers, guide or drag links and their associated parts is such that the door may be freely opened and closed with but little effort on the part of the operator and without slamming. The hanger parts are in outof-the-way position atall times and take up but little space.

It. is important to note that the assembled hanger units are constructed and arranged so that upon securing the bars I upon a door of any thickness, with the lower ends of the bars at a designated position, say six inches, in all instances from the lower edge of the door, it is possible to readily install the brackets E2 on the jambsand thereafter adjust the pivot means P and readily set the door in the proper position. This makes for a quicker and more accurate hanging of a door without employing skilled labor and provides a single sized hanger unit applicable alike to doors of various sizes and thicknesses.

In having the link pivots-P mounted on the 'sameangular portions of the angular brackets I2 as the fulcrum points l3\of the levers 8 and at points which are below said fulcrum points and above the door pivots 9 of said levers, and the link pivots ll: located at points below the door pivots'9 and near bottom of the door when the door. is closed, and by reason of the location of the pivots I3 between the ends of the levers and theme of substantially straight links and levers, the mounting is made exceptionally compact, doesnot extend appreciably inwardly from the door frame, takes up but little room and provides; for. an. accurate andexpeditious installation of the door and a safe and easy operation thereof.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their for mation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mounting adapted to be used in pairs for hanging an overhead door, a straight bar adapted to' be secured to a door, an angular bracket having two right angular portions one of which is adapted to be secured to a jamb of the door frame, a straight lever pivoted at one end to said bar and fulcrumed between its ends on the other right angular portion of said bracket, 2. straight drag link pivoted at its ends to said other right angular portion of said bracket and to said bar respectively, means providing for a vertical adjustment of the pivot connecting the" link with said bracket, and means on the other end of said lever affording the connection thereto or" a counter-balancing spring.

2. A mounting adapted to be used in pairs forhanging an overhead door, comprising a bar adapted to be secured to a door, a bracket adapted" to be secured to a jamb of the door frame, a lever pivoted at one end to said bar and fulcrumed between its ends. on said bracket, a drag link pivoted at one end to said bar, vertically adjustable pivot means connecting the link with said bracket, and means on the other end of said lever affording the connection thereto of a counter-balancing spring.

3. In a mounting adapted to be used in pairs for hanging counterbalanced overhead doors, a bracket adapted to be secured to a door frame, asubstantially straight lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends on said bracket, means afford.- ing the pivotal connection of one end of said lever with the door, a substantially straight-guide link, means for pivotally connecting one end of said link to the door at a point spaced below the" pivotal connection with said lever with the door, a vertically adjustable pivot connecting the other end of said link with the bracket at a point on the bracket which is below the fulcrum of the lever and between said fulcrum and the door and above the point of connection of the lever with the door when the latter is closed, and means affording the connection of the other end of said lever with a counterbalancing means.

4. In a mounting adapted to be used in pairs for hanging counterbalanced overhead doors, a' vertically elongated bracket adapted to be secured to a door frame, a substantially straight lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to the upper outer corner of said bracket normallypositioned with its end portions projecting upwardly and downwardly from said bracket, means af fording pivotal connection of the lower end of said lever with the door intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, means affording the connection of the other end of said lever with a counterbalancing means, a substantially straight guide link pivotally connected at one endthereof to the lower outer corner. portion of said bracket for vertical adjustment relative thereto and nor"- mally projecting, downwardly therefrom, and means for pivotally connecting the lowerend of said guide link to the lower portion of the. door adjacent to thelower edge thereof.

5. In a mounting adapted to be, used in pairs for hanging counterbalanced overhead doors, a vertically elongated bracket adapted to be secured to a door frame, a. substantially straight lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends to the upper outer corner of said bracket normally positioned with its outer end portions projecting upwardly and downwardly from said bracket, means affording pivotal connection with the lower end of said lever with the door intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, a stop on said lever engageable with said bracket to limit movement of said lever, a counterbalancing spring connected to the upper end portion of said lever extending downwardly therefrom past said bracket, means afiording a connection between the lower end of said spring and the door frame, a substantially straight guide link pivotally connected at one end thereof to the lower outer corner portion of said bracket for vertical adjustment relative thereto, and normally projecting downwardly therefrom, and means for pivotally connecting the lower end of said guide link to the lower portion of the door adjacent to the lower edge thereof.

6. In an overhead door construction, a bracket adapted to be secured to the rear face of a side jamb of a door frame, a lever adapted to be pivoted at one end thereof to a door and pivoted intermediate its ends to said bracket, a retractible counterbalancing spring adapted to be con nected to the door frame and to the other end of said lever, a guide link adapted to be pivoted at its ends to the door and to said bracket, and means affording bodily adjustment of the pivots for certain ends of said link to provide for the proper vertical setting of doors of varying thicknesses in the door frame after the bracket, lever, and link have been aflixed to a particular door and the door frame respectively.

NORMAN W. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,483,920 Wamser Feb. 19, 1924 2,162,381 Guth June 13, 1939 2,170,295 Ferris Aug. 22, 1939 2,259,819 Holmes Oct. 21, 1941 2,441,742 Wread May 18, 1948 2,516,196 Fowler July 25, 1950- 

